25 replies to this topic

[jan]

galatie, on 29 January 2012 - 07:36 PM, said:

Feel like tearing my hair out! Just when I feel like we are ready to buy, one more stone pops up which Iooks like a contender as well. It's still an SI2, but it's 2.11, F, SI2, hearts and arrow ideal cut. The price seems reasonable at $24,780... any thoughts? I am not very familiar with the hearts and arrow type of cut, would it differ from a GIA triple excellent rated stone?


http://www.jamesalle...ond-1315169.asp

There looks to be quite a few inclusions in that stone for about the same price as the 2.03 ct. SI1 G ideal cut diamond with a known 3 very high light performance. The cash price on the 2.03 ct. is $24402.

Hearts and arrows doesn't always mean a top light performance. Personally I would go for sparkle versus an image that you never see again once the stone is mounted. The sparkle and light performance can be seen across the room.

[galatie]

Hello everyone!!

Thank you all for the advice so far - being that my boyfriend and I know know virtually nothing about diamonds, this has definitelly been a bit of a learning process, and this forum has been very helpful!

As of now, I think that we will go with the 2.31 F SI2 James Allen stone - although the specs of the 2.40 SI1 are better, I think that the extra 8k is a bit out of our budget, and if they appear virtually identical, I think I will like one just as much as the other.

It's really hard to get an idea of size by looking online however. The 2.40 is 8.53 x 8.60 x 5.3. The 2.31 is 8.51 x 8.55 x 5.2. Do you think that the difference in .09 of a carat will be noticable with those dimensions?

Although it is a SI2, I've been told that the 2.31 is eye clean. I have ordered an idealscope image to be sent to me in the next few days - will post when I receive. I figure that if the inclusions do turn out to be noticable, I can return the stone under their 60 day return policy.

Looking forward to finally getting a stone... soon! : )

[davidelevi]

The difference in weight is immaterial except to the price. The difference in diameter is 0.035 mm - if you prefer, it's 1.5 thousandth of an inch. And you will not see it under any circumstances without a precision calliper to measure the stones.

Good luck with the purchase, and what follows!

If you could post a photo of the diamond and/or the ring and/or the hand with the ring, we would all be very happy to see it.

[galatie]

Sorry to be so annoying and ask opinions about so many stones, but here's a new one that just became available on James Allen, and which I've placed on hold. It has a 1.2 HCA. Thoughts on this stone? I think it may be better than the 2.31 F SI2 that we are/were very close to purchasing!!!

[url="http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1442302.asp"][url]http://www.jamesallen.com/diamonds/F-SI1-Ideal-Cut-Round-Diamond-1442302.asp[/url][/url]

2.26
F
SI1
table: 56.2%
diameter: 61%
crown: 34.5
pavilion: 40.8
cut: ideal
polish: ideal
symmetry: ideal
girdle: thin to medium
$30,680

I was initially wanted medium to slightly thick girdles - Is thin to medium a problem? Can anyone see any potential problems with this stone?

[davidelevi]

Girdle thickness thin to medium is not a problem. What may be a problem is the large, semi-transparent crystal visible at ~10 o'clock in the virtual loupe. It would not bother me (and it is just about visible in the 5x "starting" image) - but does it bother you?

Other than that, you have picked all nicely cut stones - however, they will all look very much alike, so ultimately the decision has to be based on visibility/tolerance of inclusions and price.

[galatie]

Well, I am pretty certain that we will be going with the last stone, the 2.26 F SI1. I too, was concerned about the crystal, but I've actually had a friend see the stone in person, and it's visible under a 10x loupe, but extremely eye clean to the naked eye.. so I'm confident with this buy!

Now, onto trying to find a setting for it!

Thank you very much for all of your help, will definitely post pics of the final product once everything is done!